The premise of this book is probably familiar to everyone at this point: a teenage girl (Vanessa) is groomed for and manipulated into a sexual relationship with her English teacher (Strane) at her boarding school in Maine. Even though the tumult of their relationship causes her constant torment--she becomes ostracized and expelled from her school, estranged from her parents, and beset with a pathological need for Strane's ongoing validation, even as he physically repulses her--she staunchly defends their relationship, his alleged worship of her, and her level of control over the situation. Rather than resting on the salacious details of the affair, though there are plenty, Russell focuses the novel on the profound effects Strane's abuse has on Vanessa's psyche, even well into her thirties, resulting in a thorough treatment of a complex scenario. Would recommend, though I imagine this could be a painful and/or difficult read for some. 4.5